The Ten Best Downtown Las Vegas Hotels

While many people choose the lights of the Strip, with its proximity to all the big casinos and flashy Vegas entertainment, it’s the Downtown area of Las Vegas that is true heart of the city. Spiritual home to the Rat Pack and location of the original gaming area of Vegas, Downtown is where serious Vegas-lovers will want to stay and also where people come to gamble seriously, without the gimmicks of the more touristy areas. It’s also home to the lights and sounds of Fremont Street and is highly recognizable for its huge number of neon signs, many of which have been used to represent Las Vegas on film and TV. The ten best downtown Las Vegas hotels make a great alternative to their more showy cousins on the Strip.

1. Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

The Golden Nugget is one of the oldest casinos in Vegas and, true to its name, has one of the biggest golden nuggets in the world on display – if that doesn’t encourage you to gamble then nothing will! If you enjoy a thrill then the hotel’s heated pool is built around a live shark aquarium and is a great place to spend a few hours baking in the sun and watching the finned fish before returning to the tables. The swanky hotel has an excellent range of eateries and nightlife, with rooms from around £30 a night.

2. Four Queens Hotel and Casino

The Four Queens is home to world’s largest slot machine – the Queen’s Machine – and is the self-named ‘class of Downtown.’ In addition to the casino, the hotel’s Canyon Club provides regular entertainment and the hotel is within easy reach of the fascinating Fremont Street Experience (http://www.vegasexperience.com). Rooms start at around £30 a night.

3. The Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel

The Main Street has a charming western style exterior, with sleek modern rooms that are comfortably furnished. The casino is decorated in a Victorian style with 28,000 feet of machines and tables, as well as a daily slot tournament. The hotel has its own brewery and you can taste the home brewed beers in the Triple 7 restaurant. Rooms start at around £22 a night.

4. Fremont Hotel and Casino

The Fremont is one of the main hotels on Fremont Street and part of the Fremont Experience – a canopied street that is an extravaganza of lights and music. As well as regular entertainment in the form of live music and shows, the Fremont offers guests dining experiences and gaming galore. The rooms are bright and modern and start around £24 a night.

5. Las Vegas Club Hotel & Casino

The Las Vegas Club is one of the pioneering Vegas casinos, having installed the first neon sign on a casino all the way back in 1930. If you want to do Vegas in style then the Club is a great option, with an onsite beauty salon, limousine service and Swingers Club entertainment. Rooms start at around £25 a night.

6. Golden Gate Hotel & Casino

Reputedly the smallest hotel on Fremont Street, the Golden Gate has a cosy, vintage atmosphere and plenty of opportunity for serious gaming. This is also the oldest hotel in the area so if you want the genuine ‘vintage Vegas’ experience then this is the place to come. Rooms start at around £35 a night.

7. El Cortez

If you’re a serious gambler, or you’re not in the mood for the larger casinos that are geared solely towards tourists, then the El Cortez is a great option. The casino is said to be where most Vegas residents come to try their luck and the hotel has excellent facilities, including a spa, drinking and dining amenities. Rooms start at around £28 a night.

9. Gold Spike Hotel & Casino

The Gold Spike has a fantastic location right on Fremont Street in the heart of the Downtown action. There’s a modern, spacious onsite pool area, a casino only steps from your room, and plenty to explore in the vicinity, including Las Vegas City Hall and Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Rooms start at around £37 a night.

10. Plaza Hotel and Casino

The Plaza is a downtown hotel that’s ideally located for exploring Vegas’ original gambling district. Prices here start at around £18 a night for a stay in one of the 1,037 rooms. The hotel has a fabulous rooftop pool and has quite a celluloid pedigree, having appeared in films like Diamonds Are Forever, Casino and Pay It Forward starring Kevin Spacey.

Wherever you choose to stay in Downtown Las Vegas, you are guaranteed to find yourself smack bang in the middle of Vegas history. The area is only a couple of miles from the Strip but retains a sense of vintage glamour and old school class. You can almost hear Sinatra echoing off the sidewalks…